Bobcats hope Zeller can form bond with Walker for future team success

CHARLOTTE – When Cody Zeller attended the 2008 McDonald’s All-American basketball game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, he was there to support his older Tyler Zeller.

It turns out he began a relationship that he hopes will help change the Charlotte Bobcats’ recent fortunes.

“I remember seeing Kemba Walker play in the McDonald’s All-American game with my brother,” Cody Zeller said Friday at his introductory Bobcats news conference after being the No. 4 overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft. “And my dad (Steve) and I picked him as our favorite player. I’ve followed him ever since and am looking forward to the opportunity to play with him here.”

According to new Bobcats coach Steve Clifford, he will be expected to do much more than simply “play” with Walker.

“That will be one of the relationships we will have to work on,” said Clifford, who compared Zeller’s talents to those of Pau Gasol and Kevin Garnett among others due to his talent, versatility and unselfishness. “I’m telling what I see evolving. But the talent and skill level are there and I think there’s a lot of ways that he can be effective.”

Given how Walker thrived in the pick-and-roll game with veteran Josh McRoberts late last season – Walker led the team in scoring (17.7 average) and assists (5.7) – Clifford has hopes that Zeller can do the same.

“To me, it’s the whole package,” Clifford said of Zeller’s talents. “If you watch the best teams play, they play hard and they play smart. He fits right into that.”

What else does Zeller’s addition mean for the Bobcats?

The team announced Friday it will be making a qualifying offer to restricted free agent guard-forward Gerald Henderson but won’t be extending an offer to forward-center Byron Mullens.

Henderson, the team’s first-round pick in 2009, can be signed by another NBA team, but the Bobcats will have the right to match whatever contract offer Henderson is made.

If the Bobcats bring Henderson back – and re-sign unrestricted free agents Jannero Pargo and Josh McRoberts – Charlotte can bring back nine of its top rotation players from a team that won its final three games to finish 21-61.

Sometime in the next week, the Bobcats will announce free agent signees to fill out their roster for the July 17-22 Las Vegas Summer League. The team will spend a few days at their practice facility in Charlotte before heading west.

“We’re building a summer league team now,” said general manager Rich Cho, who spent much of last season scouting Zeller’s Indiana team frequently. “Cody was a target all year. He’s a guy we want to build around. He’s the best big athlete in the draft and the best in many, many years.”

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You can reach Richard Walker at 704-869-1841 or by twitter.com/JRWalk22